Saddle Fit and Common Sense

 

 

You may have noticed by now that I always use my second blog opportunity of the month (the tip comes out on the 15^th, my own opinion or answer to an issue on the 30^th) to blow off steam about something more personal. I have already once before posted something sent to me by my good friend Dr. Joanna Robson from CA, and this month I have another interesting story which she forwarded to share with you.

 

 

She wrote me: “I had a fantastic client 2 days ago who has just been "ripped a new one" by her hunter-jumper trainer (who I know) because I told her the saddle didn't fit (and it REALLY doesn't). It's a brand new Axxxxxx, and the trainer is a rep for Axxxxxx. My client is going to have to leave her barn after this incident. I have image evidence - both thermal and photographic, and a client who I spent 3 hours with and totally understands the situation (and agrees with me), but what the heck is going on that now we have people so angry about facing the truth?! Wouldn't they want to learn so that all the horses in the barn could benefit? this is the 3rd Axxxxxx I've seen where the panels dug into the horse's back on the edges leaving him sore, tight, and unable to use his hind end.   Keep doing what you are doing - thank you for making a difference. Talk about the red shoe analogy!”   Joanna L. Robson, DVM (Check out her book and DVD “Recognizing the Horse in Pain” – available on her website www.inspiritusequine.com) – there’s my plug for the month! My reply to her and for you: Unbelievable story about the trainer. As I always say, there are people who have common sense, and love their horses, but unfortunately may be simply uneducated, and end up being sometimes inadvertently ‘cruel’ to their horses. :.-( (I also say – think about how wonderful these animals are – IN SPITE of what we do to them!) This is my lifelong mission, to protect these poor abused horses. We need to keep fighting and stand up for these horses, by telling stories like yours. With our educational purpose we can hopefully get through to the clients who love their horses and truly want to protect them from damage caused by the misguided trainers like the one in your email, who seem primarily motivated by the almighty $$. The red shoe analogy comes from a visual exercise I do in my presentations – where I wear a pair of women’s red espadrilles and walk in to the lecture hall (with great difficulty)! The point I am trying to make? Simply that because something has been deemed ‘in fashion’ or has been recommended by someone as ‘it’, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. (in other words, just because someone else uses a saddle which may fit them and work for them doesn’t mean it’s right for you or for your horse!!) Think about it... Makes sense? Jochen Schleese, CMS, CSFT, CEE www.saddlesforwomen.com .